Bullet Size for 45 Colt?

[Corpral_Agarn]

Hello THR!

I am fixin' to reload some 45 Colt for my 1873 Cattleman and have been shopping around for bullets.
What size am I supposed to be looking at?
I see .451, .452, and .454 available.

Please correct me, but my understanding is that lead bullets use .454 and jacketed uses either .451 or .452?
Is that right?
Any other tips for reloading the 45 Colt?
Recommendations for good brass and powder is always welcome!

Thanks and have a great day!

 

[USSR]

The proper size bullet for the .45 Colt when using lead bullets is determined by your cylinder throat size. About .001" larger lead bullets are ideal. This can be quite large, as my cast bullets are .455". With jacketed bullets for .45 Colt, one size fits all; .452". Most .451" bullets are designed for .45 ACP, and do not have a crimp groove. Hard to go wrong with Starline brass and Unique powder.

Don

 

[david bachelder]

I cast and size mine to .452.

Works for me.

 

[Clark]

I have owned at least one Cattleman for 10 years.

I got a deal on Hornaday .451" 250 gr XTP JHP for 6.5 cents each in Sept 2004 from Midsouth.

They had a lot of bullets.
A semi pulled up to their loading dock.
Midsouth could only send me 80 pounds per box. That was the UPS limit.

What does it all mean?
My Cattleman revolvers had never got anything but 250 gr gr bullets.

 

[Don McDowell]

.452 seems to work pretty well in most 45 colt guns.

 

[tom357mag]

.452 cast lead pushed by Unique

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

.452 it is then. Thanks Everyone!

I saw Starline brass for pretty cheap (out of stock, of course) so that's probably the route i will take.

I have some Trail Boss Powder but am open to suggestions.

thanks again Everyone!

 

[Don McDowell]

Unigue or bludot

 

[bobinoregon]

I use .452 Badmans 250 gr rnfp over Trailboss in mine. It's old and I just like to shoot it, not concerned about velocity. For brass I bought new Starline.

 

[45lcshooter]

.452 is what people see the most. but you can also expand a little to get a .454 to fit. but you can get all 3 sizes to work. just need to know throat size to get proper fit.

 

[oldcelt]

The .454 dia. goes back to pre wwll, newer guns shoot .451, .452 I shoot both. What about alliant bluedot in .45 colt, thinking about trying it. Shoots decent in my .44 mag vaquero. What do ya think??

 

[Henry45]

.452 is what fits my Uberti's. I really like the 200g RNFP..

 

[Don McDowell]

Oldcelt, bludot works great in the 45 , it has become my go to powder.